brûler la chandelle par les deux bouts
To go alone
Littéralement: To burn the candle by the two ends
Use this to describe someone overextending themselves by working and socializing without enough rest.
En 15 secondes
- Living life too fast and exhausting yourself.
- Working all day and partying all night.
- Wasting energy or money at a double rate.
Signification
This phrase describes someone who is living life way too fast. It's about exhausting your energy or money by working and partying without any rest.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6Giving advice to a busy friend
Fais attention, tu brûles la chandelle par les deux bouts en ce moment.
Be careful, you're burning the candle at both ends lately.
A formal performance review
L'équipe brûle la chandelle par les deux bouts pour finir ce projet.
The team is working themselves to exhaustion to finish this project.
Texting a friend after a long week
J'ai trop fait la fête, je brûle la chandelle par les deux bouts !
I've partied too much, I'm overdoing it!
Contexte culturel
Originating in the 1600s, this phrase originally mocked the wealthy who wasted expensive wax. Today, it is a quintessential French commentary on the dangers of a 'work hard, play hard' lifestyle. It reflects a cultural emphasis on balance and the risks of 'le burnout.'
The 'Money' Connection
While it usually means 'exhaustion' today, older French people might still use it to mean 'wasting money.' Context is key!
Not about Solitude
Don't confuse this with 'going alone.' If you want to say someone is doing something alone, use `faire cavalier seul` instead.
En 15 secondes
- Living life too fast and exhausting yourself.
- Working all day and partying all night.
- Wasting energy or money at a double rate.
What It Means
Imagine a candle. Usually, you light one end. It lasts a long time. Now, imagine lighting both ends at once. The wax melts twice as fast. The light is bright, but it dies quickly. In French, brûler la chandelle par les deux bouts means you are overdoing it. You are waking up early for work. You are staying out late for drinks. You are spending all your energy and money. You are living intensely but unsustainably.
How To Use It
You use this as a verb phrase. You can conjugate it like any regular -er verb. It usually follows the subject. For example, Tu brûles la chandelle par les deux bouts. It sounds natural when you are giving advice. It also works when you are complaining about your own exhaustion. It is a very visual way to say 'you need a nap.'
When To Use It
Use it when a friend looks like a zombie. Maybe they have a new startup and a new baby. Or maybe they went to three parties in one weekend. It is perfect for talking about work-life balance. Use it in a meeting if a project is killing the team. Use it when texting a friend who is always 'busy.' It shows you care about their health.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use it for someone who is just lazy. It implies high activity, not lack of it. Avoid it in very stiff, legal documents. It is a bit too colorful for a contract. Don't use it if someone is actually sick with a cold. It is about lifestyle choices, not germs. It is also not about 'going alone'—that is a common mistranslation. It is about exhaustion.
Cultural Background
This expression dates back to the 17th century. Back then, candles were expensive. Lighting both ends was seen as a huge waste of money. It was the ultimate sign of a 'spendthrift.' Over time, the meaning shifted. It moved from wasting money to wasting your own 'vital energy.' Today, it captures the modern 'burnout' culture perfectly. The French value their joie de vivre, but they also value their rest.
Common Variations
You might hear people just say il se brûle (he is burning himself out). However, the full candle metaphor is much more common. Sometimes people use it specifically for money. They might say someone is 'throwing money out the window' (jeter l'argent par les fenêtres). But for the 'work hard, play hard' lifestyle, the candle is king.
Notes d'usage
The phrase is neutral and widely understood. It is safe for both professional and casual environments, though it carries a tone of concern or warning.
The 'Money' Connection
While it usually means 'exhaustion' today, older French people might still use it to mean 'wasting money.' Context is key!
Not about Solitude
Don't confuse this with 'going alone.' If you want to say someone is doing something alone, use `faire cavalier seul` instead.
The Burnout Era
This phrase is having a comeback in France as people discuss 'le burn-out.' It's the more poetic, traditional way to describe the same thing.
Exemples
6Fais attention, tu brûles la chandelle par les deux bouts en ce moment.
Be careful, you're burning the candle at both ends lately.
A gentle warning about their health.
L'équipe brûle la chandelle par les deux bouts pour finir ce projet.
The team is working themselves to exhaustion to finish this project.
Used to highlight extreme effort in a professional setting.
J'ai trop fait la fête, je brûle la chandelle par les deux bouts !
I've partied too much, I'm overdoing it!
Self-deprecating and relatable.
Il a brûlé la chandelle par les deux bouts et a fini par craquer.
He lived life too fast and ended up breaking down.
Describing a lifestyle that led to a collapse.
Regarde Jean, il brûle la chandelle par les deux bouts avec ce champagne !
Look at Jean, he's really going for it with that champagne!
Lighthearted joke about someone overindulging.
Je ne peux pas venir, j'ai trop brûlé la chandelle par les deux bouts cette semaine.
I can't come, I've pushed myself too hard this week.
Setting a boundary for self-care.
Teste-toi
Complete the sentence to warn your brother about his lifestyle.
Si tu continues à ___, tu vas finir par tomber malade.
The first option correctly describes overextending oneself and risking illness.
Which verb form fits the subject 'Nous'?
Nous ___ la chandelle par les deux bouts depuis un mois.
The verb 'brûler' must be conjugated to match the subject 'Nous'.
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Formality of 'Brûler la chandelle...'
Used with friends/family about partying.
T'arrêtes pas de brûler la chandelle !
Standard usage in daily conversation.
Il brûle la chandelle par les deux bouts.
Used in literature or serious discussions.
Cette génération brûle la chandelle par les deux bouts.
When to use this phrase
Work Stress
Working 80 hours a week.
Party Life
Clubbing every night until 4 AM.
Financial
Spending your whole salary in a day.
Student Life
Studying all day, gaming all night.
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, that's a common mistake! It means you are exhausting yourself. To say 'go alone,' use y aller seul or faire cavalier seul.
Not really. It implies you are doing *too much* activity. For a lazy person, you'd say il se tourne les pouces (he's twiddling his thumbs).
It depends on your relationship. It's neutral, but saying Vous brûlez la chandelle par les deux bouts might sound like you're judging their lifestyle.
Not really, the full phrase is the most common. You can't just say 'brûler la chandelle' and expect people to understand the 'exhaustion' part.
No, it is almost exclusively used for people and their energy levels or financial habits.
The English equivalent is exactly the same: 'To burn the candle at both ends.' The meaning is identical.
No, it's a standard idiom. You can use it in a newspaper article or with your grandmother without any problem.
Usually, yes. It implies that the pace is unsustainable and will lead to a crash or 'burnout'.
It's a regular -er verb. For example: Je brûle, Tu brûles, Il brûle, Nous brûlons, etc.
Yes, historically it meant wasting money. You can still use it to describe someone spending their savings way too fast.
Expressions liées
Mener une vie de bâton de chaise
To lead a hectic, disorganized, and exhausting life.
Être au bout du rouleau
To be at the end of one's rope / completely exhausted.
Jeter l'argent par les fenêtres
To throw money out the window (waste money).
Faire cavalier seul
To go it alone / act independently.
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